HB117 and HB512

Posted onFebruary 4, 2008by

Good morning!

HB117 (Landes) and HB512 (Dance) (the two community college scholarship match bills) were heard in this morning’s 8:30 Appropriations Committee. It had been expected that Del. Landes and Del. Dance would combine their bills in this meeting. Here’s what happened today.

HB512, HB1293 (Athey), and HB117 were heard at the same time and were immediately rolled together. Then Del. Landes and Del. Dance introduced the bill. Two people, Dr. Gentry and Dr. Martin of John Tyler Community College, were present to speak for the bill.

Del. Landes explained, “Community colleges are trying to deal with an increased number of students, and transfer students are playing a larger role in the education system. This is a tough budget year, but if you could see fit to support the policy and then see how the financial situation looks next year, I think that this is what Del. Dance and I would ask.”

Chairman Morgan stated, “I think that this is a wonderful bill, but it is a five-million-dollar bill.”

Before the two representatives from John Tyler could speak for the bill, Del. Cox moved to table it. The committee voted unanimously to table the bill.